As we finished up the first month of living in Dallas, TX, we were reminded that we need to slow down and be grateful for each day we have. I’m learning that I am a person that struggles to slow down. (Those of you who know me are not surprised by that) So, when I spend my days sitting and reading and writing, I become very distracted by things. I am learning to slow down and just take in the moment. When I slow down and approach each moment as a gift, I become grateful and having a heart full of gratitude pushes out all the other tasks that I feel pressured to complete.
This week brought a slow down for Kelly as she picked up an awful cold which led to an infection. She ended up missing only one day of school and was able to get into a walk-in clinic and get some medicine to help her recovery. This “slow down” allowed her to catch up on some much needed rest and allow her to start to feel better. She is loving her new job, the kids, the fellow teachers and staff and the overall school. The blessings of not having to travel on freeways and for the most part avoid the problem of traffic, is another thing we are so thankful for. As she gets settled in and learns the job, the work outside of work has reduced to minimal and for that we are thankful. She is able to come home in the evening and just enjoy some down time and relax. During the day, the layout of her schedule allows her to get many steps in and lots of stairs. This has been a challenge but also a blessing in getting physically active during the day without feeling like having to “work out.”
I started all of my classes this week and to say that my head was not spinning would be a lie. It has been a lot to take in and I spent time learning a whole new lingo and looking up words that I did not know what they meant. I was encouraged when I had coffee with one of my professors who told me that’s normal and it usually takes about 6 months to start to feel comfortable with the “language” of the academy. When he used the word academy I related it to my former career of law enforcement. When we start in the training academy the first few weeks are spent simply learning the “language” of the new profession. I have met some great people this week from all over the world that have come here to study the Word of God and I am so humbled that I get to be here to grow and learn as well.
This week we also officially became grandparents as our son and daughter-in-law welcomed a sweet baby girl into the world back in WI. We are so grateful that everyone is healthy and doing very well. We cannot wait to be able to get back to see them and get lots of snuggle time. We are so grateful for “Facetime” and the technology that allows us to be able to see them from such a great distance.
The end of the week brought a close to our first full month here in Dallas and our floor of the apartment building had an open house hosted by one of the families. It was such a blessing to get to visit and meet the other people on the floor and hear the stories of how they arrived here. Some have been here for a few years. Others, like us, are just getting started. The one thing that resonated with me was the theme of “slowing down” So many of the stories started the same way in the fact that they came here to step out of the distractions of life and to enter a time of slowing down and allowing God to work in their lives. That led to many having the same statement of “but it is hard to slow down, with the pressures of life each day.” It reminded me of how important it is to find time each day to step out of the business, the chaos, the distractions of life and step into the quiet time with our God.
Life gets busy and not all of it is bad. Many of the things we fill our days with are good things, but God longs for us to step into a time with Him where we simply focus on Him. When we take time for this He can provide for us the peace that comes from simply slowing down and being quiet. Let me encourage you to make time (do not try and find it – you never will). Make time in your day to step into the quiet presence of our God who is faithful in everything. He will give you that peace you need, that you long for, to go about your day and be so grateful for the day itself.
Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you.” (NLT) Keep your mind on Him. Make time to step into the quiet, peaceful place of God’s great love and be grateful for each moment of each day you are given as a gift from a God who loves you.
Smile and Have a Great Day!
-Gabe and Kelly
Just smile and Have a good day 
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